PBA drafts Pacquiao

Kia drafts Pacman; Pringle top pick

MANILA, Philippines - Globalport, as expected, made Fil-Am player Stanley Pringle the top pick in the 2014 Gatorade PBA Rookie Draft where Kia Motors selected Manny Pacquiao at No. 11, clearing the way for the boxing icon’s stint as Team Kamao’s playing coach in the country’s premier cage league.

The consensus is that the Batang Pier are now ready to compete with the PBA top tiers after enlisting Pringle and three other promising players in Anthony Semerad, Prince Caperal and Nard John Pinto in the well-attended draft exercise at the Robinson’s Place Manila.

Curiously, the biggest cheers went for a draft absentee towards the end of the first round of the draft exercise.

The Midtown Atrium erupted to a deafening roar as PBA commissioner Chito Salud announced expansion team Kia Motors picking Pacquiao at No. 11 overall.

The eight-division world boxing champ is now free not just to coach but also to play for Team Kamao in the coming PBA Season 40.

He’s the oldest man ever picked in the PBA draft at 36.

Pacquiao missed the eventful draft as he’s on a tour promoting his fight with Chris Algiere in November.

Kamao’s playing coach in the country’s premier cage league.

The consensus is that the Batang Pier are now ready to compete with the PBA top tiers after enlisting Pringle and three other promising players Anthony Semerad, Prince Caperal and Nard John Pinto in the well-attended draft exercise at the Robinson’s Place Manila.

Curiously, the biggest cheers went for a draft absentee towards the end of the first round of the draft exercise.

The full-packed Midtown Atrium erupted to a deafening roar as PBA commissioner Chito Salud announced expansion team Kia Motors picking Pacquiao at No. 11 overall.

The eight-division world boxing champ is now free not just to coach but also to play for Team Kamao in the coming PBA Season 40.

He’s the oldest man ever picked in the PBA draft at 36.

Pacquiao missed the eventful draft as he’s on a tour promoting his fight with Chris Algiere in November.

A total of 41 players heard their names called with former Letran star and Gilas cadet player Kevin Alas going to Rain or Shine at No. 2 behind Pringle.

“The uncertainty of Paul Lee made us decide to choose Alas. He’s our insurance should we lose Paul. But we’ll still make an effort to sign Paul. If ever, pwede rin silang maglaro sabay for us,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.

“We would have lesser need for Alas if not for the Paul case. We might have gone for Matt Ganuelas or Ronald Pascual,” Guiao added.

Pascual was instead picked at No. 3 by San Miguel Beer and Ganuelas at No. 4 by NLEX.

San Miguel Beer gained the right to pick Pascual at No. 3 in a trade deal with Barako Bull moments before the draft proceedings. The Beermen gave Chico Lanete, Jojo Duncil and a future draft pick.

Globalport struck a separate trade with San Mig Coffee, enabling the Batang Pier to pluck Semerad at No. 7.

Earlier, Alaska Milk beefed up its backcourt with its selection of Chris Banchero at No. 5 while Barangay Ginebra strengthened its frontline with No. 6 pick John Rodney Brondial.

Rounding up the first round drafting were Jake Pascual of Barako Bull at No. 8, Jericho Cruz of Rain or Shine at No. 9, David Semerad of Barako at No. 10 and Juami Tiongson of Blackwater Sports at No. 12.

The second round had Alaska picking Rome dela Rosa then Rain or Shine Kevin Espinosa, Barako Philip Paredes, Alaska Kris Alas, Globalport Caperal, Barako Philip Morrison, Globalport Pinto, Talk n Text Harold Arboleda, Rain or Shine Michael Gamboa, Barako Gab Banal, Blackwater Frank Golla and Kia Kyle Pascual.

Then Kia Motors and Blackwater picked 11 and six more players, respectively, in the latter rounds.

Globalport easily emerged the top draft winner.

“We got all the players that we wanted. As I was telling our group, if we really want to put up a team, let’s put it up now,” said Globalport team owner Mikee Romero.

“We got the missing pieces in our team. We’re now ready to compete,” Romero also said.

“Pringle is a game changer. Ibang klase ito,” Romero said of the top draft pick that they’re planning to give a maximum three-year pact.